Posted on

Farmers Market Potato Salad

4 points

Look for a mix of red, purple, and brown-skinned fingerling potatoes, so named because of their oblong shapes, to prepare this stunning salad. If you can’t find them, substitute small red potatoes. You can serve this dish at room temperature just after it’s tossed together, or make it ahead, refrigerate, and serve chilled.

Yield:  6 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
3/4 cup vertically sliced red onion
3/4 cup diced zucchini
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. Place corn and potatoes on a jelly-roll pan. Drizzle vegetables with 1 tablespoon oil; toss to coat. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Place mixture in a large bowl. Combine tarragon and next 5 ingredients (through pepper) in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, stirring constantly with a whisk. Drizzle potato mixture with dressing; toss gently to coat.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and zucchini to pan; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add zucchini mixture and tomatoes to potato mixture; toss gently to combine.

CALORIES 198 ; FAT 6.6g (sat 0.9g,mono 4.1g,poly 0.7g); CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 28mg; CARBOHYDRATE 32.7g; SODIUM 438mg; PROTEIN 4.5g; FIBER 3.8g; IRON 1.4mg

Posted on

Jack Quesadillas with Cranberry Salsa+

7 points

Salsa:
1 c whole-berry cranberry sauce
¼ c chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp chopped green onions
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
½ tsp ground cumin
1 Anjou pear, cored and finely diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Quesadillas:
Cooking spray
¼ c (2-inch-thick) slices green onions
1 c (4 oz) shredded Monterey jack cheese with jalapeno peppers
8 (8”) flour tortillas
2 c chopped cooked turkey
½ c fat-free sour cream

To prepare salsa, combine first 7 ingredients.  Cover and chill.

To prepare quesadillas, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Coat pan with cooking spray.  Add ¼ c sliced onions to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until tender.  Remove onions from pan; reduce heat to medium.  Sprinkle 2 Tbsp cheese over each of 4 tortillas.  Top each cheese-covered tortilla with ¼ of onions, ½ c turkey, 2 Tbsp cheese and 1 tortilla.

Recoat pan with cooking spray.  Add 1 quesadilla to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and cheese melts.  Repeat with remaining quesadillas.  Cut each quesadilla into 6 wedges.  Serve with cranberry salsa and sour cream.

Yield: 8 servings.

  • Calories: 356
  • Fat: 9.7g
  • Fiber: 3g
Posted on

Black Bean Chili+

  • 1  Tbsp canola oil
  • 2  cup finely chopped onion (2 large)
  • 2  garlic cloves, minced
  • 2  Tbsp chili powder
  • 2  tsp ground cumin
  • 1-2 tsp cayenne
  • 4  15 oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained  – I use flavored: cumin/SW spice and jalapeno/lime
  • 2-3 cup leftover turkey or chicken cut into 1″ cubes or shredded (10 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts and 20 oz boneless skinless thighs is good mixture)
  • 1-2 cup corn – fresh or frozen kernels or 2 cans shoepeg corn
  • 1  cup Frontera chipotle salsa
  • 1  (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

Heat canola oil in a small Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 6 minutes or just until the onion mixture begins to brown. Add 2 tablespoons chili powder and cumin; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add beans and the remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally.

Alternatively, add all ingredients except canola oil to slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.

Yield: 24 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Nutritional Information:

  • Calories: 179
  • Fat: 4.8 g
  • Carbohydrate: 21 g
  • Protein: 13 g
  • Fat: 5.8 g
Posted on

Persian Spinach and Yogurt Dip

less than 1 point

Serve with crudités, pita, or crispy flatbread.

2  quarts water
1  pkg frozen spinach thawed
2  teaspoons butter
1/3  cup finely chopped sweet onion
1  garlic clove, minced
1/2  teaspoon salt
1  cup plain fat-free organic yogurt (such as Stonyfield Farm)
1/4  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8  teaspoon ground cinnamon

Squeeze spinach to remove water.
Melt butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 6 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in spinach and salt. Cool to room temperature.
Combine spinach mixture, organic yogurt, black pepper, and ground cinnamon in a medium bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes. Refrigerate until chilled.

Yield: 13 servings (serving size: about 2 tablespoons)

  • Calories: 20
  • Fat: 0.7 g
  • Fiber: 0.3 g
Posted on

Flank Steak with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

4 points

Yield:  4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces steak and about 1/3 cup sauce)

1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1 (4-ounce) package gourmet mushroom mix
1/3 cup water
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

Preheat broiler.

Sprinkle steak evenly with salt and pepper. Place steak on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness; let stand 10 minutes.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shallots to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms to pan. Cover and cook 4 minutes or until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/3 cup water, mustard, Worcestershire, and thyme. Cover and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.

Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices. Serve with mushroom sauce.

CALORIES 186 (27% from fat); FAT 5.6g (sat 2.3g,mono 2.2g,poly 0.3g); IRON 2.1mg; CHOLESTEROL 38mg; CALCIUM 49mg; CARBOHYDRATE 7.5g; SODIUM 443mg; PROTEIN 25.6g; FIBER 0.5g

Posted on

Cracked Wheat Salad with Nectarines, Parsley and Pistachios+

4 points

Yield:  6 servings (serving size: about 3/4 cup)

I had trouble finding bulgur, so used some other whole grains and it worked out fine.  I wanted more flavor, but that is partly my aging taste buds.  Vinegar?  Brown sugar?  Also, my nectarines weren’t quite ripe enough…

1 cup uncooked bulgur
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced nectarines (about 3)
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped pistachios

1. Combine bulgur and 1 cup boiling water in a large bowl. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Stir in nectarines and remaining ingredients except nuts; toss well. Sprinkle with nuts.

CALORIES 188 ; FAT 9g (sat 1.2g,mono 5.9g,poly 1.4g); CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 29mg; CARBOHYDRATE 24.7g; SODIUM 307mg; PROTEIN 4.2g; FIBER 5.7g; IRON 1.2mg

Posted on

Kung Pao Chicken+

5 points

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 cup chicken mixture and 1 1/2 teaspoons peanuts)

·    1  tablespoon  canola oil, divided
·    4  cups  broccoli florets
·    1  tablespoon  ground fresh ginger (such as Spice World), divided
·    2  tablespoons  water
·    1/2  teaspoon  crushed red pepper
·    1  pound  skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4-inch strips
·    1/2  cup  fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
·    2  tablespoons  hoisin sauce
·    2  tablespoons  rice wine vinegar
·    2  tablespoons  low-sodium soy sauce
·    1  teaspoon  cornstarch
·    4  garlic cloves, minced
·    2  tablespoons  coarsely chopped salted peanuts

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add broccoli and 2 teaspoons ginger to pan; sauté 1 minute. Add water. Cover; cook 2 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender. Remove broccoli from pan; keep warm.

Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in pan; add remaining 1 teaspoon ginger, crushed red pepper, and chicken. Cook 4 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned, stirring frequently.

Combine broth and next 5 ingredients (through garlic) in a small bowl, and stir with a whisk. Add broth mixture to pan; cook 1 minute or until mixture thickens, stirring constantly. Return broccoli mixture to pan; toss to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts.

  • Calories:239
  • Fat:7.9g
  • Fiber: 3g
Posted on

New West Salsa

less than 1 point

2 cups chopped plum tomato (about 3 tomatoes)
1 cup chopped Granny Smith apple
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients, stirring well to combine. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Yield: 4 1/2 cups (serving size: 1/2 cup)

  • Calories: 33
  • Fat: 0.3
  • Fiber: 1.4
Posted on

Curried Squash and Apple Soup+

1 point!

3  cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2  cups chopped onion (about 1 large)
2  teaspoons bottled minced garlic
1 1/2  teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1  teaspoon salt
1  teaspoon red curry powder
1/2  teaspoon ground coriander
1/2  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2  pounds cubed peeled butternut squash (3 cups)
2  medium apples, cored, peeled, and diced (1 pound, 2 cups)

Combine all ingredients in an electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until squash is tender.
Place half of squash mixture in a blender, and process until smooth. Pour pureed mixture into a large bowl. Repeat the procedure with remaining squash mixture.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

  • Calories: 95
  • Fat: 0.5 g
  • Fiber: 3.8 g